Back 2G Afrikaans جيل ثان (شبكات اتصال) Arabic Telefonía móvil 2G AST 2G BE-X-OLD 2G Bulgarian ২জি Bengali/Bangla 2G Catalan 2G Czech Telefonía móvil 2G Spanish 2G Estonian
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| Wireless network technologies |
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| Mobile telecommunications |
2G, or second-generation cellular network technology, marks the transition from analog to digital communication in mobile networks. Defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) under the GSM standard, which became the first globally adopted framework for mobile communications, 2G was first commercially launched in 1991 by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Oyj) in Finland.[1] Following its introduction, the earlier mobile wireless network systems were retroactively designated as 1G. 2G networks were primarily designed to support voice calls and Short Message Service (SMS), with later advancements such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enabling basic data services, including email and limited internet access. Unlike 1G networks, which used analog radio signals, 2G networks utilized digital radio signals for communication between mobile devices and base stations. This transition to digital technology enabled the implementation of encryption for voice calls and data transmission, significantly improving the security of mobile communications while also increasing capacity and efficiency compared to earlier analog systems.
Later 2G releases, often referred to as 2.5G and 2.75G, include General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). GPRS allows 2G networks to achieve a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 40 kbit/s (5 kB/s). EDGE increases this capacity, providing a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 384 kbit/s (48 kB/s).
2G was succeeded by 3G technology, which provided higher data transfer rates and expanded mobile internet capabilities.
- ^ "Radiolinja's History". 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2009.